Originally posted on: 2015-11-17
We need your help! APTA is undertaking a Flash Action Strategy on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in support of the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2015 (H.R. 2342/S. 1426)
Members,
We need your help! APTA is undertaking a Flash Action Strategy on Wednesday and Thursday of this week in support of the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2015 (H.R. 2342/S. 1426). This is a bill that your Alabama Chapter lobbied for earlier this year in Washington, DC. This bill would allow PTs to participate in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Student Loan Repayment Program. This would encourage increased therapy access in rural and underserved areas, while allowing the potential for some student loan repayment for such service. Please see the following information provided by APTA and more importantly, contact your representatives on Wednesday or Thursday and let them know the importance of supporting this bill.
Attention members of the PTeam, on November 4-5, in conjunction with APTA’s Student Assembly, we will be undertaking a Flash Action Strategy (FAS) in support of the Physical Therapist Workforce and Patient Access Act of 2015 (H.R. 2342/S. 1426). This bill, if passed, would allow for greater access to physical therapy services in rural and underserved areas by allowing PTs to participate in the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Student Loan Repayment Program.
While this bill currently has about 60 cosponsors in the House, it is still lacking cosponsors in the Senate (only 2 as of today). Additionally, several other allied health professions have bills to add themselves to NHSC, so it is more important than ever that we garner additional support in the hope of advancing this bill in the legislative process.
APTA is assisting the Student Assembly Board of Directors in spreading the word about the importance of this issue and ensuring the success of this campaign. During the FAS in 2014, nearly 11000 emails were sent to members of Congress in support of the SAFE PLAY Act and we believe this year can be even better, but we need your help. On Wednesday or Thursday of this week, please send an email to your members of Congress through our Legislative Action Center (or through the App), as this legislation affects much more than just PT students. We need all PTs, PTAs and students of physical therapy to come together and make sure everyone on Capitol Hill knows how the profession of physical therapy transforms lives.
We have made participation in the campaign incredibly simple (will take less than 5 min). To find out more information about the campaign or to learn more about this issue, visit our FAS webpage. Additionally, you can contact Ken Sprague, kensprague@apta.org with any questions or comments.
